timing chain

[82_320i]

i just bought a pretty sweet 82 320i off of a family friend. and im doing some slight restoration its been about 3 weeks since i started and its looking great.
any way the timing chain has never been replaced and i want to do it. the car has over 200k on it. i want to replace it because a buddy of mine had a timing chain blow on his car, not a bmw, and rip a whole in the block i dont want that to happen. how often should i replace my timing chain? every 100k 80k? er wut and has ne one done this already if so please help and picutres would b great also.
-SNAKE

[darkhorse737]

timing chains are normally not replaced. it's timing BELTS that require change every 65000-100000k depending on maufacturer's specs.

If you are not hearing rubbing or grinding noise in the timing chain region and provided you keep ur car well "oiled"... u have no worries :-)

Have lotsa fun with ur new car

[82_320i]

there is some noise in the engine compartment, deffinately needs new serpentine belt, but there is something else , but cant say for sure its been about a week since it ran because i took out the fuel lines. would you recomend not driving it till i replaced the timing belt it need be?
-SNAKE

[darkhorse737]

you don't have a timing belt. your 320 uses a timing chain which in theory should last as long as the engine... :-)

the noises u hear... try and run the engine for no more than 5 minutes without the drive belts... then give a listen... are the noises you hear still present without the drive belts? If yes, then... maybe it is the drive chain guides are wearing out(it happens). If no more noise... then it is one of the items that are driven by the belts ;-)

[82_320i]

ok cool well there was a noise but i figured out it was my alternator the dumbshit who put it strip the bolts that hold it on, there are 2 or 3, the bushing if all cock-eyed, plus the alternator is mounted straight cuz of the issues with the bushings and screws. b ut i fixed it

[Landscape]

i had some wicked grinding noises coming from the front of the motor in my 82 320i and thought at first it was the timing chain, or the tensioner, but further investigation revealed the idler pulley bearings that is located at the bottom of the motor.

[darkhorse737]

:-) happy you found your prob.